9 State Senate Republicans Censured By Party, “Repeated Alignment With Senate Democrats”

The Montana Republican Party announced Friday that it has censured nine state senators for “repeated alignment with Senate Democrats” during this legislative session.

“These Senators have undermined the Republican majority leadership and disregarded the will of Montana Republican voters,” a press release read.

Just in: The Montana Republican Party has censured 9 state senators and will no longer consider them Republicans for continuing to vote with Democrats

Jason Ellsworth
Wendy McKamey
Gayle Lammers
Josh Kassmier
Butch Gillespie
Gregg Hunter
Denley Loge
Russ Tempel
Shelley Vance pic.twitter.com/0ZdKlulWKT

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) April 6, 2025

Per NBC Montana:

The censure alleges State Sens. Jason Ellsworth, Wendy McKamey, Gayle Lammers, Josh Kassmier, Butch Gillespie, Gregg Hunter, Denley Loge, Russ Tempel and Shelley Vance “consistently voted with Democrats, betraying the core values of the Republican Party.”

The party’s action means MTGOP will no longer support or fund the senators campaigns. The party also urges people to stop referring to the senators as Republicans.

“The Montana Republican Party has kicked nine GOP legislators out of the party for continually voting with Democrats and “undermining Republican priorities and leadership.” They will not receive funding or recognition from the Party in future campaigns. #mtnews #mtpol pic.twitter.com/dtfvaTTUEu

— Micah Drew (@micahddrew) April 4, 2025

A closer look:

From the Daily Montanan:

The censure calls out the nine’s “unprecedented alliance” with Senate Democrats as a “coordinated scheme” to undermine the GOP leadership, including alleging ethical violations by Senate President Matt Regier, found to be unsubstantiated by the Legislative Auditor.

The committee unanimously voted for the censure on March 27 to the surprise Friday of at least four of the nine.

“I’m dumbfounded,” said Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester. “I’ve been a Republican longer than ( state GOP Executive Director Tyler) Newcombe’s been alive.”

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In an extensive letter to the head of the state GOP, obtained by the Daily Montanan, Sen. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, said his responsibility is to the people of Montana, “not party bosses like you.”

The letter was an attempt to argue against the potential censure, and Kassmier emailed it to GOP Chairman Don Kaltschmidt on March 27.

However, Kassmier said he learned Friday that Kaltschmidt did not receive the letter; Newcombe also said neither he nor Kaltschmidt have seen the letter, but they made attempts to meet with the nine.

None of the nine showed up to the executive committee meeting on March 27; several cited conflicts while others said they had never received invitations.

In the letter, Kassmier said he is a conservative who supports the agenda of Republican President Donald Trump. Kassmier also accuses Senate President Regier, R-Kalispell, of “playing political games” to undermine Gov. Greg Gianforte’s agenda and of working with Democrats.